01.08.08
An Update on the OLPC Story: Intel, Microsoft and Money Games
“[…] current PC technology is totally sufficient for most office tasks and consumers desires and […] any performance bottleneck is not in today’s PC’s but in today’s COM pipes. This in itself might slow down replacement cycles and life time shortening until we find true MIPS eating applications - a priority not only Intel should subscribe to.”
–Joachim Kempin, Senior vice president for OEM sales, Microsoft
Some children in Nigeria have gotten hold of OLPC’s ‘competition’, which is the Intel Classmate. You may find the following quite curious:
The renovation has been paid for by the government and Intel, with the chip firm covering the majority of the costs of the technology.
As you can see, Intel has resorted to dumping techniques in its fight not only against AMD but also against a charity. It is suppression and a stranglehold using the depth of one’s pocket. A source was identified which claims that Eee PC may serve a role in this plot as well.
Just to refresh your memory, Microsoft has meanwhile been using bribes in order to fight something which is hard to combat without incentives. It tried to defeat Free software (Mandriva Linux in this case) and it has similar plans in Russia where Intel is assisting Microsoft in the fight against transition to GNU/Linux in all schools (localised Mandriva derivative called ALT Linux).
Do remember that this is not even a case of giving something for free. In this case, Intel loses money just to crush the competition, which is illegal (economists would name it “dumping”). This has been yet another demonstration of monopoly abuse.
You will find more information in the following items (and the items cited therein):
- Patent Trolls, Intel and Microsoft Betray the Children
- Since When Does Microsoft Not Sabotage GNU/Linux?
- Speaking of So-called 'Conspiracy Theories' and 'Coincidences'
There are some valuable references in the items above, so they do not need to be repeated or explained further. They are necessary for context however.
The story about Intel’s (and Microsoft’s) sabotage of the OLPC is a disgrace, but what’s most disturbing is the the media’s fear of proper coverage. Groklaw will give you a good idea of what really happened. There are other issues that Intel is yet to face for its abuses, e.g.:
Kickbacks
Hiding of evidence
- AMD: Intel Destroyed Evidence in Antitrust Case
- Intel’s anti-trust memos started vanishing from the top
- Video: Henri Richard comes out swinging at Intel during AMD press conference
Corruptions identified
- EC says Intel influenced bids for computer projects
- Negroponte says Intel should be ‘ashamed of itself’
- AMD chief condemns Intel ‘abuses’
We hope that somebody finds these links helpful. Intel’s systematic abuses make some of us embarrassed and since knowledge is our friend it needs to be shared. █
“There are no significant threats to the Intel or Microsoft desktop PC franchises through 2003.”
–Chris Goodhue, Gartner Group analyst (c/f Microsoft association)
Highlight: Novell was the first to acknowledge that Microsoft FUD tactics had substance. Novell then used anti-Linux FUD to market itself. 
Highlight: Xandros let Microsoft make patent claims and brag about (paid-for) OOXML support. 
Highlight: Linspire's CEO not only fell into Microsoft arms, but he also assisted the company's attack on GNU/Linux. 
Highlight: Microsoft craves pseudo (proprietary) standards and gets its way using proxies and influence which it buys. 
Highlight: The invasion into the open source world is intended to leave Linux companies neglected, due to financial incentives from Microsoft. 
Analysis: Xen, an open source hypervisor, possibly fell victim to Microsoft's aggressive (and stealthy) acquisition-by-proxy strategy.